Terms of Use

 

Telemedicine involves the use of electronic communications for medical consultation, diagnosis, therapy, follow-up and/or patient education. By accessing our telemedicine rooms, patients agree that they have read and understood these terms and conditions:
 

Possible Risks. There are potential risks associated with the use of telemedicine, including but not limited to:

• Information transmitted may not be sufficient (e.g. poor resolution of image/video, or symptoms not able to be observed via teleconference) to allow for appropriate medical decision-making by the provider;


• Delays in evaluation and/or treatment could occur due to deficiencies or failures of teleconferencing equipment;


• In very rare instances, security protocols could fail, causing a breach of privacy of personal medical information.

By accessing our system, patients accept these risks and agree to indemnify and hold harmless Healthy Steps Pediatrics and its staff, officers, contractors and assigns.

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Discontinuing Appointments. The provider reserves the right to discontinue a telemedicine appointment at his/her own discretion if (s)he feels that safe, accurate medical advice cannot be delivered. Your provider may also recommend an additional, in-person appointment if they discover information or determine next steps that require a face-to-face appointment.

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Use of video. Proper video consultation is required; voice-only consultations (telephone or Zoom with audio only) are not permitted. 
 

Access to EMR. As with any in-office appointment, providers will be able to access your electronic medical record for your known medical history and what medications you are currently taking. 

Security and Encryption. We have selected a HIPAA-compliant software, Zoom, as our mechanism for telemedicine. Zoom keeps your patient information secure and reports security breaches involving personal healthcare information. They do not have access to identifiable health information and they protect and encrypt all audio, video, and screen-sharing data. Neither Zoom, nor Healthy Steps Pediatrics nor its staff, officers, contractors or assigns, are responsible for any data breaches that occur on the patient end, e. g. an existing virus on a patient device or a patient conducting telemedicine appointments in a non-private location.

Abuse. Providers reserve the right to expel from the Zoom room any users who abuse the system or who are involved with acts that may compromise the integrity of the system. If there is a concern of harm to the general public or data breach, relevant authorities will be contacted.

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Limitations and appropriate use. Telemedicine is not appropriate for all medical evaluations or diagnoses. Telemedicine appointments should not be used for:

• Physicals or wellness visits

• Certifying fitness (physical examination is required)

• Work Injury Compensation

• Eye pain and foreign bodies in the eye

• Ingestion of foreign bodies or foreign body in nose

• Emergencies

  • Sudden vision loss

  • Severe/Persistent abdominal pain

  • Profuse bleeding

  • Acute stroke

  • Sudden chest pain or shortness of breath

• Repeated acute visits

 

This list is not exhaustive. Should a patient be experiencing a medical emergency, please dial 9-1-1.

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